McConnell hires campaign aide to Ron and Rand Paul

9/13/12 7:40 AM EDT

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has hired a loyal aide to Rep. Ron Paul and fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul to run his 2014 reelection bid — the latest sign of how the wily leader is already preparing to head off any tea party insurgency and Democratic challenge.

McConnell announced Thursday that he's hired Jesse Benton, who led both Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign and Rand Paul's 2010 Senate campaign, to run his bid for a sixth term.

"We're committed to running a presidential-level campaign in Kentucky and that starts with a presidential campaign manager," McConnell said. "Jesse is literally the best in the business at building and organizing conservative grass-roots movements, and I'm thrilled he's chosen to return to Kentucky to lead my campaign."

Since Rand Paul defeated McConnell's hand-picked Senate choice in the 2010 primary, the leader has worked to win over the younger Paul, giving him political advice in that campaign, allowing him to operate independently in the Senate and touring the state with him back home. Such moves — including the latest hire — have helped cool speculation that McConnell could be vulnerable to a tea party primary challenger in 2014.

McConnell has methodically laid the groundwork for more than a year for his 2014 bid, knowing that as the top Republican he'll have a huge target on his back. He already had $6 million in the bank through June.

"It is a real honor to join Sen. McConnell's team," Benton said in a statement. "I look forward to playing my part in reelecting a great leader who can truly unite a broad coalition of Americans and get out country back on track."